COULD Dave Maloney be the undisputed king of Stockport 'Goal Machines'?

The recent series of features just had to be resurrected this week after I was contacted by Craig Turner who told me about this latest Offerton legend.

In a playing career that spanned 26 years - between 1959 and 1985 - Dave scored an amazing 2,010 goals - yes, two thousand and ten!

Now 61 and living in Ripon Close in Stockport, Dave clearly still holds very fond memories of his playing days - his goals, his title wins, his hospital dashes and the day he missed a visit from the much-revered Everton manager Harry Catterick.

Believe it or not, Dave began his career playing as a right-back when representing Banks Lane primary school in his home town of Offerton.

But that didn't last, he moved up front when playing for Dialstone Lane secondary modern and the goals soon started to flow.

The first of his 2,000-plus senior goals came after he joined Stockport Sunday league outfit Offerton Lads at the tender age of 15.

Soon after, Dave also started playing for Offerton on Saturdays, and it was less than 12 months later that he was to get a taste of life at a professional club.

"Jack Connor - an ex-Stockport County striker, spotted me and took me to Rochdale," recalls Dave.

"I played quite a few games for the A team up there, but unfortunately it didn't work out.

"In fact it was around this time that maybe I missed my chance to make it into the big time.

"I was sat in the pub having a drink before a game, and after getting talking and seeing the miserable weather outside, I decided to stay indoors and miss the match. I later found out that Everton manager Harry Catterick had come to watch me, but of course I didn't play."

Dave moved onto spells banging in goals for Llandudno and Ashton United, then at the age of 18 ex-County centre-half Ken Hodder recommended him to Hatters chiefs.

He made a lot of appearances for County's reserve team. Dave said: "I scored a hat-trick on my debut at Edgeley Park, that's something I'll never forget.

"But I do remember that being at a professional club then was a lot harder than it is today. It was tough going."

Dave went on to complete his goal tally further down the football pyramid in a glorious amateur career which took in further spells at Hall Street Athletic (where he stayed for 21 years as player and manager) and Adswood United.

He hung his boots up in 1985, and since has enjoyed success managing teams like Hempshaw Lane, Heaviley, White Villa, Offerton and Meadoak.

Meanwhile, Dave is still on the committee at Offerton Green FC, a team which features a certain Spencer Maloney - his son.

There have been particular highlights of course, as Dave added.

"I won many, many runners-up medals, but winning four titles on the run for Hall Street was a great period. I also scored 15 goals in one game. That was for Hall Street in 1964 when we beat Heaton Moor 16-1.

"I've featured in a book - 'George Best and 21 others' - but a bad day was when I broke my jaw and had to have loads of stitches in my mouth when playing for Offerton Lads in a Bukta Cup final defeat against Cheadle Dragons.

"But overall it's so nice to still be remembered by people I still bump into on the street.